Driving and steering gear for self-propelled vehicles.



J. O, VAN ORSDBL.

DRIVING AND STEERING GEAR FOB. SELF PROPBLLED VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19,1910.

Patented July 25, 1911.

2 BHEETSSHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOCIIIAPH 00-. WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. C. VAN ORSDEL. DRIVING AND STEERING GEAR FOR SELF PROPELLBD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1910.

Patented July 25, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- CDLUMBIA PIANOGRAPH CO WASHINGTON, D. C.

JOHN G. VAN ORSDEL, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

DRIVING AND STEERING GEAR FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Application filed July 19, 1910. Serial No. 572,770.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. VAN ORSDEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving andSteering Gear for Self-Propelled Vehicles; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and to the figures and letters of reference markedthereon.

This invention relates to steerable selfpropelled vehicles, the primaryobject being to provide a means whereby the steering wheels may serve asdriving or traction wheels in addition to the ordinary traction wheels,the driving mechanism employed being such that when a maximum tractiveeffort is to be exerted the parts may be so associated and connected asto relieve the steering gear of strain.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve themechanical construction and arrangement of the parts whereby themechanism may be employed in ordinary motor vehicles without materiallyincreasing the weight and complication of the parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a bottom plan view ofa front axle and steering and driving gear embodying the presentinvention, the parts being shown in dotted lines in the positionassumed. by the wheel spindles in running a straight course. Fig. 2 isan elevation of the mechanism and parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection in a vertical plane through one end of the axle casing, knuckleand clutch with the wheel carrying spindle and axle in elevation. Fig.4' is a detail perspective view of one end of the axle andlongitudinally movable clutch member mounted thereon. Fig. 5 is'asimilar view of one of the wheel carrying spindles and clutch memberforming a part of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating amodified arrangement ofthe steering and driving gear, the parts beingshown indotted lines in different positions assumed by them when thevehicle is being steered to the right or left.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

The axle for the steering wheels is, in accordance with the presentinvention, composed of a divided housing or casing A having journaledwithin it a driven axle indicated by the letter B and to the center ofwhich the driving power is applied through any of the usual drivingconnections, such as a sprocket wheel and chain indicated in dottedlines in the drawings, or a Oardan shaft, it being understood, ofcourse, that the driving connections embody a differentialforcompensating for the variations in wheel travel in turning curves.

The steering wheels are mounted on and connected with spindles Cjournaled in knuckled D, saidknuckles being hinged on vertical axes atthe ends of the axle whereby the steering wheels are adapted to swing ina horizontal plane for guiding the vehicle.

In the preferred construction the ends of the sections of the housing orcasing are provided with forked terminals or yokes E and verticallyalined pivot pins 6 which connectthe arms of the yokes and knucklepieces, as best seen in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. The ends ofthe axle B project into the yokes and are preferably square or made ofirregular section for a purpose which will presently appear and at theextremities they are connected through a universal joint with the innerends of the spindles C. I

As a convenient form of universal joint the inner ends of the spindlesare formed with enlargements C having centrally arranged cavities c forthe reception of the ends of the axle. The ends of the axle are providedwith transverse apertures 0' through which transverse pins F pass forloosely connecting the ends of the axle and spindles, there being asufiicient play and the form of the openings in the axle being such asto permit of the necessary relative angular movement of the parts insteering the vehicle and at the same time maintain a driving connectionbetween the axle and the spindles whereby tractive effort is transmitted to the steering wheels. For manual control of the steering wheelseach knuckle is provided with an arm or projection Gr which arms orprojections are connected together by the usual cross rod G and a link Gserves to connect the knuckles with the steering post G As thus fardescribed the mechanism con stitutes' a constant drive gearing for thesteering wheels, but the joints interposed in the driving connections atthe ends of the spindles constitute not only a source of weakness but,under normal running conditions where the vehicle is traveling astraight course, tend to induce an element of uncertainty in thesteering of the vehicle, or the maintaining of the vehicle upon itsstraight course. In order to overcome these ditliculties, as well as toprovide a means whereby when running a straight course the spindles ofthe steering wheels and axle B are locked and operate together as anordinary driving axle, clutches are interposed between the proximateends of the steering wheel spindles and axle, which clutches areautomatically controlled by the steering gear so as to be withdrawn inproportion to the turning of the knuckles in steering the vehicle.

Conveniently, the inner ends of the spindles C are in the form of clutchmembers, being for this purpose provided with squared or irregularshaped tapering sockets C best seen in Fig. 5, and cooperating clutchmembers H are mounted to slide upon the squared ends of the axle B so asto enter the sockets C The ends of the sliding clutch members H aretapered, as shown at H in Figs. 3 and 4, to fit within the taperedsockets when the members H are moved outwardly thereby not only lockingthe axle and spindles together but also holding the spindles rigidly inalinement with the axle. They also restore the spindles to alinement ifthrough wear or looscness of the parts they should tend to swing into anangular position.

For controlling the operation of or the connecting and disconnecting ofthe clutches, each sliding clutch member H is provided with a ring orband I having laterally extending lugs i projecting in oppositedirections and adapted to be connected with arms is of a sliding frame Kmounted in suitable guides or ways on the running gear or axle casing,said frames at their inner ends being jointed to an operating lever L.As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the operating lever L is connected by a linkZ with an arm L on the steering post G the arrangement being such thatthe arm L and link Z form a toggle which, when the vehicle is running astraight course has its pivotal points in substantial alinement, asshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and when the vehicle is to besteered or the knuckles turned in a. horizontal plane the said togglewill be swung in one direction or the other, thereby turning the lever Lon its pivotal center and withdrawing the movable clutch members fromenga 'ement with the clutch members on the spindle, as shown by the fulllines in Fig. 1.

Various arrangements of clutch controlling connections for releasing theclutches more or less as required by the turning of the knuckles in ahorizontal plane will at once suggest themselves and in Fig. 6 I haveillustrated one such modified mechanism. Referring to the said Fig. 6,the steering post is indicated by the reference letter M, a rack bar andpinion connections N being employed for transmitting the rotary movement of the steering post through the link N to the steering wheelknuckles. The steering post M carries a beveled gear wheel 0 with whicha pinion P meshes and the pinion P is adapted to rotate a screw Q forcontrolling the movement of the clutch operating frames K. As aconvenient form of connect-ion between the screw Q and, clutch operatingframes K toggle links R are pivotally connected with the proximate endsof the frame and with the nut S on the screw Q. Obviously, rotation ofthe steering post will rotate the screw Q and by moving the nut in onedirection or the other from its normal central position, as shown infull lines in Fig. 6, will withdraw the movable clutch sections andpermit the steering wheel knuckles to turn in a horizontal plane. Theproportioning of the gears is such that the clutch members will bewithdrawn in proportion to the turning of the knuckles and when theknuckles are in alinement with the axle the clutches will be fullyengaged so as to lock the parts for positive rotary 'movement, therebytransmitting the power to the steering wheels without losses or strainupon the universal joints.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the wheel spindles are inalinement with the axle and the vehicle thereby adjusted for progress ina straight line, deflection of the wheels from such position by strikingruts or other obstructions is prevented and furthermore differences intractive eifort transmitted through the wheels to the ground doesnotcause a swerving of the vehicle from its straight-away course.Steering of the vehicle is not interfered with because the initialmovement of the steering wheel instantly releases the clutches to asufficient degree to permit the inauguration of the swinging movement ofthe wheels in a horizontal plane. The clutches are moved out ofengagement in proportion to the steering movement of the wheels and areonly restored to their fully engaged positions when the spindles of thesteering wheels are brought back into alined position.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a self-propelledvehicle, the combination with the axle and steering wheel spindlespivotally connected with the ends of the axle to swing in a horizontalplane for steering the vehicle, of clutches interposed between the axleand steering wheel spindles and each embodying a member movable bodilytoward and from the spindles for locking the spindles in alinedposition, means for simultaneously releasing both clutches and'means forpositively swinging the spindles on their pivotal centers for steering.

2. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination with the axle andsteering wheel spindles pivoted on independent axes to swing in ahorizontal plane for steering the vehicle, of clutches interposedbetween the axle and steering wheel spindles and each embodying a membermovable bodily toward and from the spindles for locking the spindlesagainst swinging movement, manually operated control mechanism forpositively swinging the spindles to steer the vehicle and connectionsbetween said control mechanism and clutches, whereby the clutches aresimultaneously released when the spindles are swung for steering.

3. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination with the axle, steeringwheel spindles pivoted on independent axes to swing in a horizontalplane for steering, and driving connections between the spindles andaxle, of clutches having members which cooperate to lock the spindleagainst swinging move ment a steering gear connected with the spindlesfor positively swinging the same to steer the vehicle, and means forsimultaneously releasing both the clutches connecting the axle andspindles.

4-. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination with the driven axle,steering wheel spindles pivoted to swing in a horizontal plane forsteering, and universal joint connections between the axle and spindlesfor driving, of oppositely arranged clutches for connecting the axle andspindles when in alined position to lock the spindles against swingingmovement, means for simultaneously releasing the clutches, and means forpositively swinging the spindles to steer the vehicle.

5, In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination with the driven axle,steering wheel spindles pivoted to swing in a horizontal plane forsteering, and universal omt connections between the axle and spindlesfor driving, of cooperating clutch sections on the axle and spindleembodying tapered male and female members cooperating to lock the axleand spindles in alined position, means for releasing the clutches, andmeans for positively swinging the spindles to steer the vehicle.

6. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination with the axle embodyinga housing and a driven axle journaled therein, knuckles hinged to theends of the housing to swing in a horizontal plane and steering wheelspindles journaled in the knuckles, of clutches interposed between thespindles and driven axle and cooperating to lock the spindles againstswinging movement, and means for simultaneously releasing said clutchesand positively swinging the knuckles, and spindles for steering thevehicle.

7. In a self-propelled vehicle, the combination with the axle embodyinga housing and a driven axle journaled therein, knuckles hinged to theends of the housing to swing in a horizontal plane and steering wheelspindles journaled in the knuckles, of clutches interposed between thespindles and driven axle, means embodying a toggle link connectionmovable in opposite directions' away from its center for simultaneouslyreleasing said clutches, and means associated wit-h the clutch releasingmeans for positively swinging the knuckles, and spindles for steeringthe vehicle.

8. In a self-propelled Vehicle, the combination with the axle embodyinga housing and a driven axle journaled therein, knuckles hinged to theends of the housing to swing in a horizontal plane and steering wheelspindles journaled in the knuckles, of clutches interposed between thespindles and driven axle, means embodying a toggle link connectionmovable in opposite directions away from its center for simultaneouslyre leasing said clutches, operating gearing for moving said toggle linkconnection in either direction, and connections between said operatinggearing and knuckles for positively steering the vehicle when theclutches are released.

9. In a motor vehicle, a pair of suitably supported spaced housingshaving forked terminals, a driven axle supported for rotation in thehousings and having squared. terminals, knuckles connected pivotallywith the yokes of the housings for movement in a horizontal plane,spindles supported for rotation in the knuckles and having headsprovided with tapered non-circular recesses and with sockets wherein thesquared ends of the axle are connected for universal movement, sleevesslidable upon the squared axle ends and having tapered non-circularprojections, and means for simultaneously oscillating the knuckles andsliding the sleeves upon the axle ends, the parts being so adjusted thatwhen the spindles are in alinewith the spindles, and manually operatedmeans for positively effecting simultaneous adjustment of the knucklesand the sleeves.

11. A pair of suitably supported housings having forked ends, a drivenaxle supported for rotation in the housing and having squared ends,knuckles hingedly connected with the yokes of the housings,Wheel'carrying spindles supported for rotation in the knuckles andconnected for universal movement with the ends of the axle, sleevesslidable upon the squared portions of the axle and adapted for lockingengagement with the Wheel carrying spindles, rings fitted in annulargrooves upon the sleevesand having laterally extending lugs, armsextending from the knuckles, a rod connecting said arms, a suitablysupported lever, arms connected with said lever at opposite sides of thefulcrum and having terminal forks connected With the lugs ofthe ringsengaging slidable sleeves, a steering post having crank arms, a linkconnecting one of said arms with the sleeve adjusting lever, a linkconnecting the other crank arm With the arm extending from one of theknuckles.

JOHN C. VAN ORSDEL. WVitnesses:

V. L. MoORAoKEN, ANNA M. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for. five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

